WND Exclusive

Hamas leader used hospital to escape missiles

'I am a target and I am not afraid'

During a radio interview today, one of the most senior members of the Hamas terrorist organization described how a hospital conveniently located next to his home helped to ensure against Israel targeting him for assassination.

Mahmoud Al-Zahar, who survived a previous assassination attempt in 2003, was asked on WABC Radio’s “Aaron Klein Investigative Radio” whether he fears he will be targeted again, particularly in light of the eliminations of several other Hamas members this month.

Klein asked: “I have to ask you: you are located in Gaza. You are one of the most senior member of your group, Hamas. So are you afraid that Israel will target you? Do you think that Israel will try to assassinate you?”

“They already targeted me and they killed my first son,” replied Zahar. “And they targeted me and broke [my] backbone. And also in the last battle they tried to target me and they sent a small rocket.”

Zahar continued: “But the Jordanian hospital here was near my house, and I think there was a big protest between and a big debate between the Jordanian government and the Israeli government. That was the main cause not to attack our house.

“So I am a target and I am not afraid. We practiced that many times. But I think if from now forward they are going to make this policy (of assassinations) I think we have to respond very strongly in order to convince that this policy to make an end to the hostilities.”

Audio of the interview can be heard below:

Zahar is a co-founder of Hamas. He previously served as the group’s foreign minister under Hamas’ former prime minister Ismail Haniyeh.

In 2003, Zahar’s son, Khaled, a member of Hamas’ so-called military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, was killed by Israeli forces in a failed 2003 assassination attempt on al-Zahar’s life.

During the latest round of fighting in Gaza, Israel eliminated multiple terrorist from Hamas and other Gazan jihadist groups, including the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad.